Seismomorphogenic Regulation of Plant Growth1

Abstract

Growth of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, and Pisum sativum L. was dwarfed by various forms of mechanical stimulation including shaking, flexing, and rubbing of the plant axis. The general effect of gently shaking a tomato plant once or twice daily was a reduction in node and leaf number, shortening of internodes, nodal swelling, epinasty of leaves, deep greening of new leaves, and increased lateral branch development. It is suggested that the term “seismomorphogenesis” appropriately describes mechanical stress effects on plant growth such as result from wind action.